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The differences between reporters and staff writers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a reporter and a staff writer. Additionally, a reporter has an average salary of $46,667, which is higher than the $44,844 average annual salary of a staff writer.
The top three skills for a reporter include news stories, digital marketing and facebook. The most important skills for a staff writer are feature stories, news stories, and event coverage.
| Reporter | Staff Writer | |
| Yearly salary | $46,667 | $44,844 |
| Hourly rate | $22.44 | $21.56 |
| Growth rate | -10% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 11,179 | 80,547 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 81% | Bachelor's Degree, 82% |
| Average age | 40 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
In journalism, a reporter is responsible for relaying truthful and reliable information to the public audience through various mediums such as print and media. A reporter must ensure to gather necessary and factual data that are supported by interviews and comments of those involved, remain unbiased in all aspects, produce a concise and comprehensive informational material within an allotted time, and efficiently coordinate with every staff. Furthermore, a reporter must remain professional at all times and adhere to the policies and regulations set by the company or network.
A staff writer is an individual who works in the television (TV) or entertainment industry to provide standard content such as news reports, reviews, and features. Since writing content is important, staff writers must be able to collaborate and brainstorm ideas with other staff members in the production process. They must attend conferences, events, or seminars to meet other people in the industry. Staff writers must also possess knowledge in scriptwriting and an in-depth understanding of the entertainment industry.
Reporters and staff writers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Reporter | Staff Writer | |
| Average salary | $46,667 | $44,844 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $73,000 | Between $29,000 And $68,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Citi | The New York Times Company |
| Best paying industry | Media | Non Profits |
There are a few differences between a reporter and a staff writer in terms of educational background:
| Reporter | Staff Writer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 81% | Bachelor's Degree, 82% |
| Most common major | Journalism | Journalism |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between reporters' and staff writers' demographics:
| Reporter | Staff Writer | |
| Average age | 40 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 44.8% Female, 55.2% | Male, 49.2% Female, 50.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.7% Asian, 9.7% White, 66.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 6.7% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 8.8% White, 71.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 11% |